Investigation into Allegations Against Thomas Markle Sr.

Meghan Markle’s half-brother is under scrutiny by police in the Philippines amid an investigation into child sexual abuse allegations involving their father, Thomas Markle Sr. Tom Markle Jr. alerted authorities in Cebu after discovering child abuse material among his father’s belongings in a vacated residence. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated, “We’re determining if the son is involved. We have witnesses who say that underage girls were being brought to his house, and we are following it up. To accuse the father only is only half the police work. There are signs that point that the son is a person of interest. He is not being treated as a suspect.” Thomas Markle Sr. has vehemently denied these claims, calling them “sick lies.” Newsweek has sought a response from Markle Jr. and is waiting for a reply.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, with West Coast Trial Lawyers, explained to Newsweek, “These are terms that are used by law enforcement. A suspect is a person who is the target of the investigation that they will likely arrest and charge. A person of interest may be charged, may be arrested, or may not be.”

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The Global Investigation Into Thomas Markle Sr.

The investigation into Thomas Markle began in the Philippines after Tom Markle Jr. reported him to local law enforcement. Markle Jr. claimed he discovered suspected child abuse images among boxes of personal items. Officers seized evidence from the property, where Markle Sr. lived before moving back to America.

Major General Wilson Asueta of the Philippine National Police confirmed the presence of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abuse Material (CSEAM) in the confiscated photos and computer files stating, “We were able to find that there are files consisting of CSEAM. This will be subjected further to analysis. These are videos of a male and female minors, others who are not minors doing sexual activities and of course, explicit materials. We are conducting ongoing digital forensics analysis and our field investigators are also doing their best conducting investigations… to validate the information that was provided to us. The investigation is going in the right direction.”

Mexican police launched a related probe after the Daily Mail reported findings in a storage unit in Mexico, just south of the U.S. Officers raided the unit on Saturday. The Baja California State Prosecutor’s office confirmed finding magazines and computer equipment, but did not confirm criminal evidence.

Markle Jr. told The Sun he informed FBI agents about further storage sites in Los Angeles, warranting searches due to connections with findings in the Philippines and Mexico. He said, “I dread to think what they might find.” He noted the unit contents include Meghan’s old furniture, books, photos, and other memorabilia.

Meghan Markle’s Reaction to the Investigation

Meghan expressed distress over the investigation after the initial report surfaced in October. “I am deeply distressed at the news that has come to light in the last 24 hours, and my thoughts are with any children who may have been harmed,” she said. Meghan also mentioned a letter from Thomas Markle Sr’s ex-wife, Roslyn Loveless, with severe allegations against her father, which she received from the Metropolitan Police.

“It made troubling and disturbing allegations against my father, and I was given assurances that these were being investigated,” Meghan noted. She emphasized her distance from her father was for her children’s protection, stating, “Although the breadth of what has now been uncovered is more sickening than one could ever imagine, my sincerest hope is that justice will be fully served and that the priority remains the safety and protection of innocent children.”

British Police Under Investigation

British Police officers are under investigation for not passing on the letter’s contents received in January 2019 to other law enforcement agencies. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) explained, “Following a voluntary conduct referral from the Met Police, we have decided an independent investigation is required into its failure to pass on allegations of serious offending, contained in a letter it received in 2019, to relevant overseas authorities at the time.”

Meghan initially believed she received the letter in 2018, but the Met Police later confirmed it was sent in 2019. “Following a thorough review of Met police systems and records, we have confirmed that, in January 2019, we received a letter containing a number of claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom,” the Met explained. “The letter was reviewed and a decision was made that it should be passed to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness. The details of the allegations in the letter were not shared with other law enforcement agencies.”

The MPS is reviewing this handling and considering whether a referral to the IOPC is necessary for further examination.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Fitzpatrick and James Debens